Q. What is check-in time?
A. Check-in is 4 pm and check-out is 11 am. Late checkout is available for $175 provided there are no guests checking in that day.
Q. How do I pay?
A. We accept many forms of payment.
- Paper check by mail or e-check onilne
- Mastercard, Visa
- wire transfer
Q. How am I protected if I rent your house?
A. If you book with us directly, we can provide documentation to prove that we own this home, and you can verify with the address and google satellite/street view that we are showing you pictures of the house. You can't be too careful, so make sure you get this from anyone you rent from!
You can also book through VRBO, HomeAway, AirBnB or Tripadvisor. They all charge an additional guest fee up to 10% or more, but they do offer some additional renter protections, so some people think it's worth it. If you book directly with us, there are no booking or "guest" fees.
Here is the direct link to our VRBO site where we have been listed since 2006. We have received over 70 reviews since we started, almost all 5 star out of 5! www.vrbo.com/106937
Q. What is your Cancellation Policy?
A. CANCELLATION POLICY There is a $1500 charge for cancellations 90 days or more in advance. (We will refund the deposit less $1500.) Reservations canceled within 90 days of your arrival date are non-refundable, except cleaning fees and security deposits, and if we re-book for those dates we will credit a portion of the fees collected from re-booking.
Q. Is there a maximum number of people?
A. We have beds for up to 9 people. Prior to arrival we will send you a contact form by email which will contain the names and approximate ages of all guests, your arrival and departure information, and contact information while you are on the island. This must be completed prior to receiving the check-in instructions. Only the guests listed in the contract may be in the home, unless you have written permission from us for others to be there during the day.
Q. Can we have some friends over? We promise to be quiet.
A. NO. We are very serious about NO PARTIES. Therefore, any guests in the home, above the number specified in the contract (max 9-11), must be approved. This applies for day guests, not only overnight guests.
Q. What is your PRIVACY POLICY?
A. All information we collect is only for our own use. We do not share it with or sell it to anyone else.
Q. What is the configuration of the house?
A. The upstairs is at street level. This level includes:
- Living room with ample seating and 65" tv/stereo
- Dining room
- Kitchen, Laundry, Pantry
- Master Bedroom with California King memory foam bed
- Master Bath
- Master Lanai (outside/covered)
- Den/4th bedroom with queen pull out sofa and memory foam mattress (walls slide open or closed as desired)
- 1/2 Bath
- Hall closet
- Main Lanai with sofa, loveseat, small table and chairs.
The lower level includes:
- Bedroom with Queen bed, smart tv, opens to the pool
- Bedroom with Queen bed and twin bed, smart tv and X-Box and opens to the pool
- Full bathroom off hallway
- Lower lanai, covered, with dining table and chairs, large grill
The only rooms without ocean views are the bathrooms! Ceiling fans are in: living room, dining room, kitchen, all 4 bedrooms
Q How far are you from ...?
A. Town - We are a 5-10 minute drive to the towns of Kailua-Kona and Keauhou, with shopping and restaurants.
Beaches - There are beaches along the coastline right below us. But keep in mind that is about a mile away, so you do need a car! It takes 10 minutes by car to get to a number of beaches. There are additional beaches all along the coastline, mostly north, from 15-40 minutes away.
Airport - Kona International KOA is 15-20 minutes north.
Volcano - About 2 hours.
Around the island - You can easily drive around the island in a day, making stops along the way.
Q. WHERE SHOULD I STAY ON MY VACATION?
A. Regarding views: Here are some things we have discovered over the years.
Some people love ocean front, but it's not for everyone. It is hotter and more humid, salt gets on everything, and appliances tend to be rusted. Personally, I can't sleep with the ocean crashing on the rocks, while Glen enjoys it. Much of the Kona coast is not beach, but is lava rock. Which is pretty, but is not quite the same as being on a beach. Of course there are some wonderful homes that are ocean or beach front, but nice ones are extremely expensive (over $1500 a night.) Personally, we love the panoramic coastal views! We've discovered an interesting phenomena; if we can't see the ocean and coastline, we feel kind of trapped, like we have to be out at the beach or we are "missing out". But if we have the panoramic view, we don't need to be at the beach all of the time. We enjoy the place we are staying more.
"Ocean view" can mean a lot of different things. With some vacation rentals, it's just a sliver of ocean on the horizon. Sometimes photos have been taken to strategically avoid ugly power lines, and occasionally those power lines are even airbrushed out! Sometimes there is a view from the corner of a yard or an upstairs lanai. No matter what they say, if you don't see a photo with an awesome view, it probably isn't there.
We do recommend renting a home with a great view, if it's in your budget. I speak from experience. We used to figure the place didn't matter much, it was just a place to crash. But that all changed when I first rented a home with a great view. It really makes a huge difference in the experience. Our home is in a part of the island that is the most steep, which is why the views are so great!
A. Regarding hotel vs. vacation rental A resort hotel sounds good in theory: lying by a pool with someone bringing you umbrella drinks. In reality you are stuck in a small room, you have a long hike from your room to the car, and restaurants are very expensive. A vacation rental home is not only less expensive, it is a completely different experience. It's as if you owned your own million dollar home in Paradise! In our home it's easy to get privacy in your own room, or to hang out with your family and friends. You can eat out or cook at home, or even have great food catered for less than a high end restaurant.
A. Regarding location
On our first trip to the Big Island we traveled around the island spending 2-3 days in each place. That does make a great first trip. But the majority of people stay on the west side and take day trips to other parts of the island. Here are some thoughts on the West side of the island: North Kona (where we are) is great because it is sunny and dry, and has Hawaii charm. Neighborhoods such as ours have an upscale, beachy feeling. You can get great views like we have because the land is steep, plus you have the city lights at night and cruise ships in the harbor during the day. South Kona (Captain Cook, Kealakekua) is more tropical and jungly, kind of "classic Hawaii", but definitely more remote. To me, it's a fun place to spend a few days, but not a full week. Traffic has also gotten pretty bad between there and Kailua, as people have moved south due to rising housing prices. The night views are not as interesting because you don't have the city lights. Kohala has great beaches, and if you like a resort atmosphere with lots of golf courses and condos, it may be the best choice for you. However, it is often windy, you rarely get a view, and it's too desert-like/artificial for my tastes. No matter where you stay, keep in mind that on weekdays afternoons, especially around 4 pm, there can often be traffic coming from Kohala south into Kailua. This is primarily from workers at the Kohala resorts commuting home to South Kona or beyond.
Q. What is there to do nearby?
We are 2 miles south of central Kailua-Kona, and 2 miles north of Keauhou.
Beaches:
- Kahaluu Beach, just a few minutes down the road, is great for kids and snorkeling, with frequent visits from sea turtles. Other in-town beaches including Magic Sands and the beach at the King Kamehameha Hotel.
- Ku'a is a beautiful beach park just past the airport. So you can get there much quicker than going all the way to Kohala. urn left at the Veteran's Cemetery.
- Napoopoo is another fun local beach south of Kealakekua. It is a "black" sand beach (gray actually.) Be warned, on a sunny day the sand is very hot!
- Some very popular beaches are in Kohala, such as A-Bay and Hapuna. They are about a 45 minute drive north.
Coffee Farms:
There are many coffee farms in the region which give tours. My favorite is Greenwell Farms in Kealakekua. You never have to wait longer than a few minutes for a free tour, and you can spend the time sampling many varieties of Kona Coffee! (I hated coffee until I moved to Kona and started touring Kona Coffee Plantations.)
Shopping:
Wal-Mart, Lowes, Longs Drug, Safeway and KTA grocery store are a couple miles north of us. (Also Starbucks, Burger King, McDonalds, Denny's, Macy's, Kmart, Cost Plus, Ross, Target, and numerous smaller shops.) Costco and Home Depot are about 5 miles N. Walk along Alii drive downtown for the tourist shops.
Restaurants: Dozens of great restaurants within a 5-10 minute drive. Some of our favorite restaurants:
- Humpy's Big Island Alehouse in downtown Kailua-Kona - Awesome beer on tap, and the True Hawaiian Pizza and Hamburgers are great!
- Fish Hopper in downtown Kailua-Kona - Awesome fish tacos, Kalua pork sliders, sweet potato fries and beer on the bar menu, best price dinners in town (if you eat at the bar tables, available almost all night.) Great for breakfast too.
- Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill - Excellent food where all the locals go. I especially like the kalua pork quesadilla's which are half price at Aloha Hour (3-5 daily)
- Splashers Grill in downtown Kailua-Kona - Great location and food. Large menu and everything we've tried so far has been great. My favorite are the crab cake sliders, although burger lovers swear they are the best ever.
- Lava Lava Beach Club - Waikoloa Village - Right on the beach. Best to arrive late afternoon before the crowds, grab a "table" on the beach (table consists of lounge chairs and sofas with fire pit coffee tables), eat from the beach bar menu, and stay for sunset. (The Kalua Pork Nacho's are great!) You can also eat at tables in the thatched hut, but make reservations. A bit pricey, but worth it for the one of a kind experience.
- Holualoa Cafe in Holualoa for a special event like a birthday or anniversary. Located at a historic house in Holualoa, you can eat amazing food under a large Banyan tree. Most food is grown on site.
Other things to do: Snorkel or Dive with manta rays (amazing), Golf (many different courses), Deep Sea Fish, Jet ski or parasail, zip line, snorkel and dive tours, hike a volcano or waterfall, ride a horse, canoe on an old sugar cane irrigation trench.
Q. Do you have air conditioning?
A. No. Our home is at 650 feet above sea level, which is considered just about the perfect temperature. Much higher and it is too cool, much lower and it is too warm. But we get cooling breezes almost all the time, either up from the ocean or down from the mountain. It is rare to have these breezes stop and be too warm. It does happen now and then, but not often and nothing a dip in the pool won't fix! It is not uncommon for guests to have this concern before traveling, but once there we have never had a complaint about it being too warm.
Q. What else should I know?
A. Congratulations on choosing a Vacation Rental for your Hawaii visit! This is the best way to enjoy Hawaii with family and friends. You can all stay in one place for much less than individual hotel rooms. You can make memories and save money by making meals at home. And by choosing a home with awesome views and private pool, you can have fun and enjoy Hawaii every moment of every day, not just once you drive to a destination. (We all know how much time you spend "waiting around" when you're traveling with a group, so why not enjoy that time!)
BIG ISLAND TRIVIA
The entire Big Island of Hawaii is one county in the state of Hawaii. Kona is a region, not a town. Actually it is split into two, North Kona and South Kona. The town commonly known as Kona is Kailua, but because there is a Kailua on Oah'u, we are often called Kailua-Kona to avoid confusion. (The beaches up north are in a region called South Kohala.)
The Big Island of Hawaii is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. It also has almost all of the worlds climate zones, right on this one island!